The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-11

She waited and waited, the sweet, stead
fast face growing whittier and whittier as she
found she would have to wait in vain
"You ought not to do it, was all Mr..
Grahame said; and then, furling the sun
shade hurriedly, he lifted his hat and strobe
back to Dernside, packed his portmanteau,
and was OF downward before she rcgained
the house.
1t was only her fortune he had cared for,
then; only her fortune!
That was the keenest grief that Honoria
bore away with her one brief week after
wards Then, escaping from the chorus Of
scandalized establishment in the neighbor-
hood, she too left Dernside, expecting-nay,
hOping-neyer to see it again.
By help of Mr.. Dean she traced her
mothers relatives, and among them for
months, which dragged themselves into
long year, found temporary home. But
none Of them were rich. The income she
consented to retain was insufficient to pur-
chase her q welcome. Under their roof she
felt what she was-an alien, q stranger.
One worthy man, o curate cousin, could
only house her when his children were at
school. Another, a naval Captain, pro-
posed taking her to Hong Kong with him
on his next voyage. ''It was such capital
place for getting girls married in, and his
wife didn't want a permanent boarder, you
know" Two Old maiden ladies, second
cousins, ''could have her when they didn't
require fires when she could sit in her own
room great DEAL" but from place to place,
and pillar to post, as poor Honoria went,
she was made to feel that, with her rich
upbringlng and ncr present almost poverty
flor which last her new-found kinsfolk
unanimously blamed herr, she was out OF
harmony with such kindred as she had,
very waif, without haven in sight into
which she might hope to drift.
This knowledge, backed by another
secret pain, was making her not morose-
for nothing of that sort was ia her nature
but unspeakably sad. when in her second
desolate winter she made a brave effort to
shake off the bondage of this depression
and step out into some occupation that
should deaden her past.
~ must find work Of some sort; will you
help me?" she asked her curate cousin.
work" he repeated, obviously; ''you
are not strong enough for that, Honoria.
You should have thought Of that before
YOU cast away what Providence"
80, hushr' she YEARLY implored. 81
must be able to do something; at least, I'll
try. What is it, little manf' as the curate's
Youngest, number seven, trotted to her side.
'.Ze pos'man dave me dis" said little
Beau, and ''dis'' was Q letter to Honoria,
running thus:
DERNsIDs, Dec. %. 1SS-.-Ds1r N;ss Went
north: AS we hear by inquiries that you are not
vet particularly settled as TO residence, l write
for unve els
come and spend Christmas in the home you so
generously renowned to us and ours. Our chill
dren are gathering about US during this month.
Believe me, we shall oil feel the new year begin
more happily for your presence among us; and
sincerely trust shall, in some way, be able to
repay you for the trial which return to Dern-
Do not grieve US by refusal, but come quickly to
YOURS most truly. GERALDINE CORBETTE.
Such a yearning sprang up in her to see
the old place once more she quelled her
first proud rebellious inclination to refuse,
and went. And this is how she was met:
The evening was closing, stars frostily
shining overhead, the house glowing with
many lights from within, as she was driven
I'D. At the wide-open door kind, motherly
face smiled welcome on her, and one of
Cyprian Wentworth's sisters led her to an
other widow lady, who kissed her and
thanked her with an emotion which was
very catching for all she had given them
back, and babe her go warm herself, after
her long drive, in the library, and see if she
could find no one slss among them whom
she knew.
To the library, then, she went, and lol in
the sparkling light of the old yew logs stood
hubert Grahame!
He, hurrying to meet her, took first one
hand, and, finding that was shaking, then
the other; then, since she seemed nowise
less nervous, boldly steadied her trembling
figure with his two strong arms, and made
confession of much which until now had
been incomprehensible.
81 found when first came to the Cros-
bies that, like them, you knew nothing OF
US Grahames, or that my mother was one
of the discarded sisters. So | thought |
would stay on and see what our supplanter
was like. l started with trying hard not
to like you, but that soon came to an end.
[ could not manage it. Then l stopped,
when ought to have gone away, and grew
to love you more and more. But I'd never
have told it while you were my uncie's
heiress, and we were all so poor: and, moss
and best, loved you when you were in
such trouble, and felt ought to bid you
keep the whole OF Dernside; and yet, for
nv mothers sake and all the others, L was
torn two ways at once. And sweetheart,
Honoria, if you've not learned to think me
poltroou, will you have me now? had
not enough to dare to ask you then. But
I'm getting on; don't think we shall be so
very poor. Last month rather great gun
took me for his partner. And little bit
of your own will be yours again. There
are four of US Grahames, six sons and
daughters of Aunt Geraldine. SO you will
take tenth of your fortune back with me,
Honoria Is it worth having!"
Worth having! She clings to him as
they stand there in the red freight;
worth having!" All, with MN, worth all
the other ten times told, she says.-CasseFs
Magazine.
OUR NATIONAL WEALTH.
The Toftad Cfafes the Most